Last year saw young Swedish activist Greta Thunberg journey across the Atlantic on a zero-carbon yacht in order to make a powerful statement about the environmental consequences of commercial flying. In Sweden, the idea of Flygskam or ‘flight shame’ is increasingly encouraging people to opt for more sustainable forms of transport over flying. Across Europe and beyond, people have become increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their flight behaviour and have begun to do something about it. Flight Free UK attempted to have 100,000 people pledge flight free for the year 2020 and more and more people have begun to take Thunberg-inspired slow travel journeys to reduce their personal emissions.
We don’t all have access to high-tech zero-carbon yachts like Greta, so train travel seems a more realistic option to avoid flights. Opting for a train journey over a plane journey can cut your carbon emissions by up to 90%. Flying from London to Edinburgh emits 193kg of CO2 per passenger, whereas train travel emits 24kg of CO2 per passenger[1]. That’s an emissions reduction of 87%! Not to mention other gas emissions from airplanes such as water vapour trails.
Train travel is undoubtedly more sustainable than flying and we should all be making the switch to rail in order to reduce our personal carbon footprint. However, if the environmental reasons don’t convince you, here are five more reasons to take the train instead of the plane.
1. Comfort
Trains are much more comfortable than flights for a handful of reasons. On a train you’ve got better leg room, you don’t need to wear a seat belt, and you can have a table in front of you for the entire journey, making it easier to work or eat. You can also stand up and walk around whenever you like, no seat belt signs here! In a not-so-busy train you can even change seats, meaning you can escape loud passengers or crying babies in your carriage.
2. Wi-Fi and Service
Say goodbye to putting your phone on airplane mode! On a train you can access your mobile data and service whenever you’d like. Trains also often have a free Wi-Fi service to enjoy. That means you can do work, call your friends or watch Netflix to pass the time on your journey. Some railway services even have their own media services, like Avanti West Coast’s app ‘Avanti Media’, where you can watch hit movies, TV shows and access other entertainment services for free on board[2].
3. Less Luggage Restrictions
Travelling by train comes with way less luggage restrictions than flight travel, even when you’re crossing borders! No need for security checks where you have to take off your belt and shoes and unpack half your bag. On a train you can bring your bike or an oversized or overweight bag and not get charged a fortune. You don’t need to pour all of you liquids into little 100ml bottles and you can bring as much alcohol as you like!
4. Scenery
Travelling by train means having big windows to look out of for the entire journey with scenic views to admire as you pass by. The route from London to Edinburgh via the East Coast Main Line (LNER) is known for its scenic views, especially further north and along the coast[3].
5. Time
Train journeys themselves are often referred to as slow travel, which allows plenty of time on board to work, relax, socialise or have a snooze. But even though the journeys themselves might be slow, train travel can be quick in other ways. Train stations are abundant and often located centrally, meaning you can get directly from your point A to point B in one trip – forget pricey airport buses! Travelling by train also means you can arrive at the station two minutes before the train leaves, rather than the standard two hours for flights.
And there you have it! So next time you’re going on holiday, think about switching that plane journey to a train one. Not only will you be doing your bit for the planet, but you’ll also be benefiting from a comfortable, connected, unrestricted, scenic and time-saving form of transport!